This past Easter weekend, the Healthy Hen Household spent four days at the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  It is quickly becoming a family tradition (our second Easter there), and you may want to consider making it yours.  We focused on one thing: pure, family fun.  Memory making, we sometimes call it.

The Broadmoor is one of the finest resorts in the world, and remarkably family friendly.  It has so much to offer that it was recently designated as a Forbes (previously Mobil) five-star resort for a record fiftieth (50th) year in a row.   It is currently only one of fifty-four (54) hotels in the world with the Forbes five-star designation (list here), so to have that distinction for half a century is a testament to its enduring quality, culture and history.

What makes the Broadmoor such a magical place for us is its family friendly amenities.  It is a worthwhile getaway no matter where you are from, as evidenced by visitors from throughout the United States and around the world.  So, what were some of our favorites on this holiday, spring time trip? In no particular order:

1. Accommodations: The rooms at the Broadmoor are spacious and lavishly decorated.  And the details, from the linens and robes, to the bedding and personal care products, were befitting of a luxury resort.   It was a great retreat for rest and relaxation after enjoying the day’s activities, and a treat to call home during our stay.

2. Activities: There are so many activities at the Broadmoor, whether for kids or just adults, that this could be a post of its own.  We didn’t even come close to utilizing the offerings, yet we did enjoy all of the following: Easter carnival (with games, face painting, jump houses, cupcake decorating and engaging employees), watched a movie in Broadmoor’s own theater, spent time in the library (a book store straight out of a classic novel), enjoyed the Carriage Museum (full of amazing antique horse carriages, cars and Native American artifacts lovingly cared for by the in-house curator – it takes your breath away), the indoor pool and outdoor hot tub (impeccably clean facilities and  views over the golf course), a nice playground and walks around the lake enjoying the ducks and swans.  Oh, and don’t let me forget the family BINGO night.  We played two nights and, to the kids’ delight, won some beautiful Easter candy.

Among the list of things we thought we would do, but just didn’t get to:  the free shuttle to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo or Seven Falls, or a trip to the Garden of the Gods.  And, when we return in the summer, there is an incredible outdoor pool, paddle boats, tennis lessons, and the “Bee Bunch,” where the kids can do activities and play under supervision of the Broadmoor while mom and dad enjoy one of the many fine dining restaurants on the grounds.

3.  Dining: We enjoyed casual (but great) meals in all of these “kid friendly” establishments on the Broadmoor property (and the kids ate free!):  The Golf Club Grille (comfortable but beautiful atmosphere, including patio seating overlooking the golf course); the Golden Bee (an English style pub that takes you back to Olde England with great fish and chips, black and tans and ragtime piano);  the Lake Terrace Dining Room (views of the lake, richly decorated, fantastic service and food); and of course, lots of in room dining for the kids.  The food was great, the presentation was beautiful, and the employees were a joy.  And this doesn’t even touch on the many fine dining establishment and the gorgeous Sunday brunch.  Those will be for the next trip!

4. Fitness Center: Since I am still  training for the Horsetooth Half Marathon, I needed a treadmill available for two hours.  The bellman graciously arranged for reservation of a treadmill for my running day, which was wonderful.  The fitness center is nicer than most local clubs – quality equipment, spotless facility, locker rooms with tranquil music, tile showers and personal care products.  My Rooster swears he could spend an afternoon just relaxing in the locker room!

5. Spa: The Broadmoor also has a five star spa, which I enjoyed following my training run (with the compliments of the Broadmoor staff – thank you!!) .  It was pure bliss.  Professional staff, a soothing environment, aromatherapy rooms, a sauna, indulgent showers, and a swedish massage that left me feeling like I floated around the Broadmoor property the rest of the day.  A special, though necessary retreat that was good for body and soul.  Moms and dads just don’t do this often enough!

6.  Customer Service: While the Broadmoor facilities and grounds are spectacular, what often sets a luxury resort apart from its competition is the quality of service.  Every member of the staff we interacted with was pleasant and gracious.  Anything we needed, we received, and they had a way of making you feel special with every interaction.

So, I know this is a long post, yet I can’t do the Broadmoor justice without writing a short novel.   I didn’t even touch on their three golf courses, which are in a magnificent setting and have been home to major professional golf events.  In fact, the Broadmoor will be hosting the U.S. Women’s Open in 2011. As many of you followers know, the Healthy Hen House does a fair amount of traveling and  I strongly recommend The Broadmoor as a destination.  You will be surprised how much it has to offer as a family retreat, and if you review the many “package offers” it has throughout the year, you will also find it to be surprisingly affordable luxury.  We hope to return to enjoy it each season, as the ambience and environment are unique and special throughout the year.  We can only imagine playing outside in the summer or the decorations at Christmas.  So give it a try, and let us know your favorite features.  Remember to tell them the Healthy Hen sent you!

Easter is such a lovely time of year, but the week after I always wonder: What in the world am I going to do with all these eggs? My mom makes the best egg salad in the world (at least I think so, and my husband agrees!) and was kind enough to share her recipe.

Egg Salad

6 hard boiled eggs

½ cup Miracle Whip

2 tablespoons white vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

• Mash the eggs with a potato masher or fork.
• Stir in the Miracle Whip, vinegar, salt and pepper. If you want it more tart, add a little more vinegar. Serve on toasted bread (I like it with iceberg lettuce for crunch) and enjoy!

What could be easier? I’ll be making a batch or two of this egg salad this week, and now you can too!

As Easter approaches, I’ve been thinking about fun spring activities for the kids. It made me remember a not-so-fun Easter event from the past.

A couple of years ago, a friend told me about a local egg hunt at a garden center. Her children loved it the previous year, and she thought it would be a lot of fun for our kids, too. Since our kids love egg hunts (who doesn’t?), we decided to go. The kids got dressed up, dusted off the old Easter baskets, and were ready to look for some eggs! When we arrived, we were a little surprised to see that the line for the egg hunt was very, VERY long, but the kids were hopping around with excitement, so we took a place in line. At the appointed time, the doors were opened and the line surged forward. By the time my kids got in the door, the place was packed full of kids grabbing eggs left and right. We looked behind flower pots, in plants, on garden sculptures, and we found… zero. Absolutely nothing was left. Now, I understand that we were pretty far back in the crowd and there were a lot of kids who got in before us, and I can take that in stride. What really bothered me was that there were MANY parents who were helping. Not in the “Look, Johnny, there’s a green one in the petunia. Why don’t you get it?” kind of way, but in the “Here, you hold my infant (who can’t eat candy and couldn’t care less about eggs) while I fill a couple grocery sacks with booty” kind of way. It was terrible. I don’t know if it was the lure of free candy or the pretty, shiny plastic eggs, but something about the situation drove those parents into a competitive frenzy. Maybe they were all hosting egg hunts later in the day and were using their babies as cover to get free supplies. Whatever it was, it was appalling. So there we stood in the garden center, my (then) four year old daughter crying (along with several other kids) while a small percentage of people (and very few children) walked away with the bulk of the goodies. Luckily, we ran into a friend who gave each of my kids an egg, a gesture that made them very happy!

If you’re going to an egg hunt this year, I hope you have a better time than we did. I also hope that you and the other adults remember what the egg hunt is about. It’s not a contest to see whose parent can grab the fastest, but a time for kids to enjoy themselves and get a little candy. So happy hunting, and have a happy Easter!

Pizza, pretty much the universal party favorite of kids and adults alike.  Even more fun is having the construction of the pizza take center stage at your get together.  I’ve seen kids have a blast making their own pizzas at birthday parties, and the same goes for family dinners.  Give the kids a bit of dough, some flour and a rolling pin and let the fun start.  (We have to hide the toppings or else two cans of olives disappear before the dough is even rolled out!) We love to make pizza in the summer when cooking it on the barbecue lets us enjoy the outdoors while keeping the house cool.  While you can put the dough straight on the grill rack, we’ve found it’s much easier to both carry and bake your pizza if you use a pizza tray made just for the barbecue.  Although the long handled pizza trays tend to cost less, I’ve been told that it’s easier to grill with the short handled pizza trays as you can close the barbecue cover all the way.  The trays also make great gifts for that special someone who loves to grill.

Many supermarkets offer fresh pizza dough (white or wheat) that’s inexpensive and convenient.  You just need to let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes and it’s ready to shape.  I also make whole grain dough in the bread machine, which takes a bit of planning for the 3 hour dough cycle.  Last summer, my brother-in-law, our family’s grilling guru found the perfect quick pizza dough recipe you can make at home that’s ready in 20 minutes.  I’ve made it myself, it’s fast and tastes great too!

Quick Pizza Dough

1 cup water
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups flour (plus 1-2 Tbsp for kneading)
3/4 tsp salt
1 pkg quick rise yeast

• Mix water and oil and heat to 125°.
• Mix flour, salt and yeast in a bowl.  Add hot water mixture to dry ingredients.
• Knead with fingers for 2 minutes.  Sprinkle on more flour until dough is smooth and elastic, not sticky.
• Let dough rise for 10 minutes (30 minutes if you used active yeast).  Roll out dough and add pizza toppings.

If you would like to try grilling your pizza, follow these steps:

• Preheat grill to 350-400°.
• Grill pizza for 10-15 minutes, until cheese melts and dough is baked.
• Check the pizza every 5 minutes.  If crust starts to burn, turn off middle burner and continue baking with indirect heat.

I’m not a runner.  I like to think of myself as a really supportive Rooster for the Healthy Hen.  One thing she enjoys about running is the simplicity of it.  All you really need, in its purest form, is a pair of running shoes.  So for years, I watched her pack up the baby jogger and her shoes into our minivan (I like to call it the Hoop Ride, it makes me feel just a bit more hip) and take off running from all sorts of destinations:  hotels, campgrounds, the kids’ schools, you name it.  She would wear a regular watch, and just decide how much time she was going to run for.  When she would get done, she would make an educated guess on what her pace was, the distance she ran, that sort of thing.  The only time she usually knew her true pace and distance was running with her sister, who a few years ago got a Garmin Forerunner, which they used to help train for a marathon.

The Garmin is like a large wrist watch/GPS system.  It tells you all the details of your run with amazing precision.  Her sister called it the Giz.  Yes, it really does have a name.  But since we are kind of slow to adapt to technology, we just never ended up getting one for the Healthy Hen.  Until this year.  I finally surprised her with it for Valentine’s Day, and now I’ve adopted a name for it:  the Enabler.

Seriously, this thing is incredible.  She can start her run literally anywhere, and this thing let’s her know her pace, her distance, elevation, you can race a “virtual partner,” all sorts of cool stuff.  And when she gets home, if she runs the same route, she can compare her runs, her times for each mile, elevation, etc., and get a sense of how consistent it is and/or areas of improvement.  It adds a whole new element to running for the Healthy Hen.  She can train (currently for a half marathon), but doesn’t have to follow the same route all the time because the Enabler will always tell her the distance no matter where she is.  So now she has been able to expand her training runs to the course itself, the neighborhood, and other places around town just to add variety while still being able to stick to a detailed training regimen.  Good stuff.

So what is the Enabler? It is the Garmin Forerunner 205.  It is their base model GPS/running/biking watch.  They also have the 305 (the key difference is it has a heart rate monitor) and the 405 (it is a bit smaller and “sleeker”), but the 205 has all the bells and whistles the Healthy Hen needs to feel a lot of freedom in her running while still tracking important training information.  So you should check them out if you do any outdoor distance activities such as running or biking – they are pretty affordable and a LOT of fun for you (or the really healthy person you just love to support)!

This past week we took a whirlwind trip up to Bozeman, Montana.  If you have been there, you know it is about an hour north of Yellowstone National Park and a paradise for those who love outdoor activities – both winter and summer.  Generally, the Healthy Hen House leans towards the summer activities, so we did not expect a lot of outdoor fun in March, but we lucked out on this trip.  It was sunny and in the 60s, so the whole area was full of springtime energy and worthy of being this week’s Healthy Highlight.  Below are a few of this amazing town’s amenities:

1.  The“M” trail on the Northeast side of town.  The “M” is a local landmark and hike on the edge of town that provides sprawling views of the Bozeman valley and all of the surrounding mountain ranges.  A great workout for adults and kids, with the reward of amazing views at the top.

2.  The Galligator Trail, a trail network in town that runs along a serene creek among trees, open meadows, and farms.  It is full of runners, bikers, walkers, dogs, etc., and one moment makes you feel part of a special community of people, another moment as though you are all alone in a secluded world.

3.  Wandering downtown Bozeman, which is full of modern bistros, pubs with a genuine western flair, college hotspots, art galleries, ski shops and local coffee houses.  Amongst our favorites?  The Leaf and Bean (local coffee, pastries and musicians); La Parilla (truly unique burritos and part of a small, local restaurant network dedicated to marketing through word of mouth); and Montana Ale Works (a fine dining restaurant/pool hall in a renovated, historical train depot).

4. Bridger Bowl, the local ski area about 15 miles out of town.

5.  Paradise Valley, which extends north out of Yellowstone and any stop puts you beside the Yellowstone river and underneath the awe inspiring Absarokee mountains.

These are but a few of the highlights Bozeman has to offer – it is a place full of natural surroundings that are good for the soul, combined with good food and good people. Luckily, these sorts of places exist throughout the United States, so let us know where you like to nurture your body and soul – maybe that will be the next place we head to!

A couple years ago, my kids and I took a trip with my mom to visit my aunt and uncle. We had a great time seeing relatives and exploring near their home in the mountains of Montana. And my uncle took my kids for rides on the 4 wheeler- an experience they still gush over today. We had a wonderful time, and during the course of our stay I learned something: my aunt is a fantastic cook! She made us incredible oatmeal pancakes which have become a favorite at my house.

Oatmeal Pancakes

2 cups oatmeal
2 cups buttermilk
2 whole eggs
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

• In a large mixing bowl, combine oatmeal and buttermilk. Let soak 1/2 hour.
• Add the rest of the ingredients to the oat mixture.
• Spray a skillet with cooking spray and use an ice cream scoop to drop batter onto medium hot skillet. Cook until golden brown, flipping once. (I use an electric skillet, which is a lot easier.) Serve with a fruit saute such as apples or peaches, syrup and nuts.

I have made them with regular milk, and they turn out fine (but are missing the little tang of buttermilk.) I’ve also substituted unsweetened applesauce for the butter- the pancakes are a little flatter and stick a bit more, but are otherwise great! These pancakes are great with blueberries mixed in to the batter. Give them a try this weekend, and I bet you’ll agree there never was a tastier way to eat oatmeal! And many thanks to my aunt and uncle for such a memorable visit- we’ll have to do it again soon!

A couple times a month (usually on a Friday after a long week) we like to plan a family movie night. We frequently make homemade pizza or pop popcorn, then we set up a kids’ table in the family room and put in a movie. It’s a lot of fun! (And yes, I know eating in front of the TV is a bad idea, but if you only do it once in a while it’s a great treat.) The only tough thing about family movie night is picking the movie. My husband and I insist on an actual, full length movie- not a series of episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine or something like that. My daughter likes Barbie movies, my son likes Bob the Builder. My daughter enjoys involved plots but thinks characters like Jafar from Aladdin and Ursula from Little Mermaid are too scary. My son falls asleep if there isn’t enough action. So how do we find common ground? Through recommendations from friends and memories from our own childhoods, we’ve come up with several that make everybody happy. Here is a list of our favorites in no particular order.

1. Nim’s Island: A newer adventure movie about a girl who is left alone on an island and has to save it and herself. It’s a really fun adventure, but there are some scary moments (mainly a couple big storms) that we discussed ahead of time. The main character is a very adventurous, smart girl which my daughter loved! We had a group of neighbor kids over to watch this once and had an island party with old luau decorations- lots of fun!
2. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: A classic with lots of adventure and fun songs. Who wouldn’t love a really cool car that flies? And my kids love when the kids help catch the bad guys!
3. Mary Poppins: Another classic, full of fun! We especially like the rooftop dance by the chimney sweeps.
4. Herbie Movies: The newer one (Herbie Fully Loaded) with Lindsay Lohan is alright, but my kids prefer the classics, especially the Love Bug. The car is funny and full of antics. But you may find yourself explaining some things: the characters get the car drunk, and there is a scene with hippies (which didn’t make sense to my kids.)
5. Pixar Movies: (Our favorites are Cars, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., The Incredibles and Toy Story) They can be a bit scary for little ones (Monsters, Inc. and The Incredibles come to mind) but they are also fun to watch for children AND adults.
6. In Search of the Castaways: When I was a kid, I loved anything with Haley Mills in it (Parent Trap, Pollyanna, etc.) This movie may be hard to find, but the adventure is fun. After we watched it, we found ourselves in an interesting conversation with our 6 year old about stereotyping and how different cultures were portrayed in old movies.
7. Curious George: If you’re looking for something for young kids that won’t get them too worked up before bed time, this is it. Curious George is short and sweet with some really funny moments and great music.
8. Space Chimps: I came across this one on Netflix and didn’t know what to expect. It’s about chimps who go to space (duh) and end up saving a planet from a horrible leader. We were pleasantly surprised when the kids loved it and my husband and I laughed through the whole thing! It’s goofy and lots of fun, and we’re going to get it again.

I made this list for two reasons: First, when I talk to other parents about movies, they often say “Oh, I forgot about that one- but I loved it!” so I thought I might jog some memories. Second, I’m running out of ideas! What movies do you and your kids enjoy? Leave a comment with your favorite(s) and maybe we’ll all have a family movie night this week. Popcorn, anyone?

There is something magical, sometimes even transforming, about a goal.  Little goals lead to bigger goals, and bigger goals are built by achieving the little ones.  So naturally, as a lifelong runner, inspiration was flooding out the door when I flipped to the back of this month’s Runner’s World magazine and read about Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, a NASA astronaut.   I couldn’t lace up my Asics fast enough to run outside.  I was filled with inspiration from an incredible woman who had a very big goal.   There is nothing quite like seeing this brilliant, modest, fun mother achieve her lifetime dream of going to space.  And the things she has accomplished along the way, including an incredible level of fitness, are mind-boggling!

So, this week, Dorothy, you are the healthy highlight.  You are an inspiration, and reminder that with the right work-ethic and dedication, goals of any size can be achieved. Our thoughts, prayers, and wishes will be with all of the Crew of STS-131 on April 5, 2010!  Godspeed (I think you achieved that at your 3:05 marathon).  And for those of you who haven’t read Runner’s World, it is filled with great stories, training tips, and inspiring people, so be sure to check it out.  It may help you achieve your own personal fitness goals.

While swapping recipes, the Flying Hen and I found out that we had a favorite cookbook in common, the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book.  Our mothers used older editions of the book and my Rooster even admits to being impressed with the wide range of topics covered in this timeless kitchen reference.  So on a recent trip to the bookstore, the familiar red and white checkerboard cover on a kids cookbook caught my eye.  It was Better Homes and Gardens Snack Attack!

Our kids like to help out in the kitchen, but those times seem to be getting fewer and farther between once school started.  I wanted to get the kids involved in the kitchen again and still fit it into our school schedule.  Better Homes and Gardens Snack Attack! is full of fun recipes for kids to make, and the bright illustrations and large recipe photos caught their eye right away.  And I was happy to see a short list of ingredients for most of the recipes.  We already own a few kids cookbooks that don’t get used because the recipes were either too complicated or the photos just didn’t make the food look appetizing to kids.  A recipe can be tasty and healthy, but if it doesn’t look fun to make it will probably be skipped right over.  We jumped in and tried the Wonton Chips, Groovy Smoothies, Ham ‘n’ Cheesy Calzones, Crispy Chicken Dippers, Double Decker Delights, Lunch Box Oatmeal Cookies and Zippity Pop Popcorn.  So far the kids have had a blast making their snacks.

Better Homes and Gardens Snack Attack! comes with over 40 recipes.  In addition to the easy instructions and minimal ingredients, the snacks are reasonably healthy (any breaded items are baked, and you can choose how organic/whole grain/fat free you want to go with the ingredients).  Several of the recipes would also be great for party snacks or playdates.

If you’re looking to have fun with your kids in the kitchen take a peek at Better Homes and Gardens Snack Attack!

If you have young kids, you can’t help but appreciate the unbridled joy that follows a visit from Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy.   There is a small window of opportunity as parents to let kids’ imaginations run so freely, to believe in these “magic” beings.  So, why not extend the magic with Liam the Leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day?!  Our chicks received their first visit from Liam three years ago, and he was a major hit.  He leaves little things about the house or outside – the kids have a blast and we get a chance to talk about St. Patrick’s day, which obviously holds a place of significance in U.S. as well as Irish culture.  So, here are few suggestions if you want Liam to visit this year!

1.  Talk to the kids about St. Patrick’s Day coming up, and share with them some of the history and “myths” that go with it.

2.  Move a few things the kids pay attention to around the house – question whether Liam the Leprechaun may have been involved – they will start to get very curious.

3.  If you have a St. Patrick’s Day parade in your community, go to the parade. They are usually a few days before the holiday itself, and the kids can have lots of fun while also thinking about Liam.

4.  Set traps for Liam.  Leprechaun’s are elusive little suckers, so you can have fun with the kids by having them set “traps” to try and catch Liam.  Maybe the ole’ shoebox, leaned up on one side, supported by a stick, with a coin inside.  The kids will want to check the trap in the morning – if you remove the coin, knock out the stick and have them look under the box, they will wonder how that magical little fellow got the coin, set off the trap, and then escaped.

5.  The morning of St. Patrick’s Day, leave out a few little treasures or gifts in the house or outside – the kids will feel like they got a treasure from Liam and really LOVE it.  If they have preschool or school, maybe include something green they can wear so they don’t get pinched and can share their story of Liam the Leprechaun coming to visit.  Trust me, its a blast.

If you have any St. Patrick’s Day traditions, or you get a visit from Liam this year, share your story with us!

Several days ago, my sister-in-law sent me an email, a forwarded message from her neighborhood email network. A little girl in her neighborhood had lost her beloved stuffed animal, a brown rabbit named Bun-Bun. The author of the note was looking for any information on the whereabouts of Bun-Bun to help out the “very broken-hearted little girl.” The message broke my heart, too. My son has a beloved stuffed animal, a pink rabbit who’s name is also Bun-Bun.

Our Bun-Bun came to the family several years ago as an Easter gift to my daughter from her great aunt. He was perfect- fuzzy, bright pink, and the right amount of stuffing to make him great for cuddling. An instant hit, right? Wrong. My daughter took one look at him and assigned him a spot at the bottom of her stuffed animal pile. A couple years later, when my son was a baby, he was playing in her room one day and came across the bunny. He claimed it right away, and as soon as he could talk he christened it Bun-Bun. That rabbit is his constant companion: he’s been on all our vacations, doctor visits, parks… you name it! He’s even been to preschool show and tell twice! When my son gets bumps and bruises, we always hear “I want Bun-Bun!” through the tears. As you can imagine, he is no longer fluffy and pink and perfect, but he is very loved. He is a part of the family!

Last December, the same great aunt called me to discuss Christmas presents. She told me she was going to get my son a new stuffed animal because every time she saw him he had “that filthy pink thing.” (In my defense, Bun-Bun goes on many more adventures in the washing machine than any of our other stuffed animals.) I reminded her that she had given us the rabbit in the first place but told her she was welcome to try to interest my boy in something else. For Christmas, she gave him a very cool stuffed tree frog. He liked it very much, named him Froggy, then announced that Froggy and Bun-Bun were best friends! Great. We had two stuffed friends to take everywhere (which made our outings a little more crowded.) He called them “my guys.” But now, Froggy comes on fewer and fewer trips, and he doesn’t always sleep on the bed. Bun-Bun remains the constant companion, and I’m not surprised a bit!

So my heart goes out to that little girl who lost her Bun-Bun, and to her parents who have the impossible task of replacing him. I wish them all the best and hope their Bun-Bun finds his way home.

In the parenting tool box, no tool stands out like the infamous Sticker Chart.  Seriously, is anything else more instrumental in convincing children across the nation to go potty, pick up their toys, clear their dishes or make their beds?  If only they fill up that sheet with stickers, each representing a chore completed, a good deed done, they can get that toy they always dreamed of, that trip to the amusement park, the big cake with fancy decorations.  And what do parent’s get out of it? Kids who start to understand concepts of responsibility, of working towards a goal, of rewards that flow from hard work and patience.  But not all sticker chart programs are alike.  We have tried different variations, different rewards, and only recently feel like we found the right mix for us.  So, here it is:

1.   Keep it simple – the more complex it is, the more kids get lost in the shuffle.  Give them a simple homemade chart, a sheet of stickers, and let them know when the boxes are filled, the reward will come.  Any other rules may bog them down and that chart will never get filled.

2.  Make the reward commensurate with the number of stickers required to receive it.  If your child gets a substantial gift/reward for very few stickers, you will soon find yourself spending a lot of money for few lessons for your child.  If you require more stickers before they get a prize, they will start to enjoy doing things that please or help others – it won’t just be about the prize, but the lessons that go with it.

3.  Don’t always do a specific list of things they can do to get stickers – if you do, it becomes more “formulaic” and they just focus on the checklist for the sake of stickers.  If you provide them with some ideas of how they can earn stickers, but give them the freedom to do other helpful, kind things too, they will surprise you. They will do things that make you proud, that they came up with themselves.  They will start to enjoy that aspect of the process, and great lessons will be instilled.

4.  Cycle them in and out at different stages.  If you continuously have charts, they can start to feel routine and uninspiring.  When you get through one or two charts, bring them out again a month or two or three later.  This will keep it fresh and interesting for the kids.

5.  Once there are certain chores or behaviors the kids have been doing to earn stars, set the expectation that they continue doing those chores or exhibiting those behaviors.  After all, that is the idea behind the charts in the first place, so don’t let the kids regress to old routines after they get their prize.

Any other ideas out there? I’m sure you all have great stories or insights on this topic, so please, share them with our readers!

This morning I gave a performance. After a 16 year hiatus, I broke out my flute and showed off my skills in front of a group. Well, a group of three year olds, but a group nonetheless. My son’s preschool is in the middle of Music Week, and this year they called for parent volunteers to come in and show different instruments to the kids. My husband, a trombonist, volunteered right away. Last week I asked the teacher if I should send my old flute along, too. She perked up at that, asked if I could get a sound out of it, and the next thing I knew I was at home digging out sheet music. Once I was in with the class, it went very well and the kids were all impressed (like I said, they’re three) and I really enjoyed it. It got me thinking about all the things parents do for their children that, given the choice, we might not chose to do ourselves. You know what I mean- the late nights we spend stringing up planets, the costumes we make, the last minute baked goods we produce because our kids volunteer us, the effort we give to getting the birthday cake just right- all those times when Mom and Dad go to (perhaps unnecessarily) great lengths to help out.

Now that my flute performance is behind me, I get to focus on my next project. Next week at my daughter’s school all the kids are supposed to dress as a favorite story book character. I would guess most of the kids have chosen a human character, but not my girl; I’m going to spend the weekend turning a sweatshirt and tube socks into Charlotte the spider! I probably could have talked her into Fancy Nancy or something a little easier, but darn it, she loves Charlotte! So I get to warm up the old sewing machine and get busy.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s usually worth all the effort. (Although one time I did spend a lot of time turning old sheer curtains into a princess dress-up skirt for my daughter, only to never see it again.) And it’s fun to break out some old skills, perhaps skills my children didn’t know I had, and show them off a bit. They won’t always be so easy to impress. But what about you? What are your stories? What’s the most ridiculously involved project you’ve done for your kids? And did they love your efforts or was it all for naught (ever made absolutely beautiful cupcakes only to have the kids call them “yucky?”) Leave a comment!

This past weekend marked a milestone for our family: our oldest son lost his first tooth.  Did the big event catch us by surprise?  Yes and no.   I think he may have been the last in his class to join the toothless club, and that little tooth had been showing only the slightest hint of a wobble since last August.  I admit we knew the time was coming.  We just didn’t expect it to suddenly loosen up and let go in less than a week!  And, of course, it happened late on a Sunday night, which limited the Tooth Fairy’s options considerably.   My Rooster and I could faintly remember receiving a quarter per tooth, and maybe a fifty cent piece for a special one, but that was a long time ago.  What does the Tooth Fairy leave these days?  That night we found ourselves using Facebook and Twitter to quickly gauge just what the Tooth Fairy’s going rate is.

Turns out that kids still love cash.  Most parents give one dollar per tooth, although some admit to paying five dollars (who wouldn’t want to be a kid again at five bucks a tooth?)   And I was impressed with those who did origami with the bills, nice touch.  As expected, it was universally agreed that the first tooth is special and warrants that little something “extra”.  And that’s where it got interesting.  Some parents decide to give twenty dollars for the first tooth.   Others add a special note from the Tooth Fairy.  Many parents have special coins ready (dollar coins, foreign currency) or perhaps a two dollar bill.   And it seemed like kids who loose their teeth at an early age (before they can count money) prefer the sheer quantity of coins (pennies, nickles, dimes, it doesn’t matter) as they are more fun to play with than paper money.

So what did we decide to do?  We started with the beloved tooth “pillow”: my special teddy bear that had held a beautiful necklace from my son on his first Christmas with us (hugs and kisses to my Rooster for that one).   I held on to the bear for over six years, and last week I realized what I had been saving him for.   My boys fell in love with “Tooth Fairy Bear” the moment they saw him.   Not only is he a plush silver/gray bear with vivid blue eyes and a sparking bow, but he has a zippered tummy that can hold a tooth or other treasure.  My son fell asleep holding tight to the bear, I think he was determined to see the Tooth Fairy since Santa has still managed to avoid detection.  My late night trip to the grocery store yielded a crisp, new five dollar bill and a great suggestion from the cashier – write the note from the Tooth Fairy in tiny fairy script to give it that authentic touch.  So early the next morning, my son ran into our room with his bear, and opened the pocket to find a scroll tied with a violet cord.  The scroll held a special note from the Tooth Fairy, written as tiny and flowery as I possibly could, and five dollars.  After reading the note, he said excitedly, “I knew she must be small! Just look at how tiny the writing is!”  For him, the magic of that moment was in the note, not the cash.  And then he went on to try and figure out how she got in and out of his room without any of us, or our two dogs seeing her.  Must have been the fairy dust…

I don’t know why this recipe is in my recipe box or where exactly it came from, but we are glad we have it.   We make this a couple of times a year, usually in the heart of winter, and it is so good even the kids go for it.   Now, I know Velveeta creates different emotions for different people, and we NEVER use it except in this soup, but if you try it you won’t deny it!  Here it is:

6 Large carrots, sliced

4 Stalks of celery, chopped

5 Large potatoes, cubed

1 medium onion, chopped

1/4 cup butter

add two cans chicken broth

simmer for 30 minutes

add two cans cream of potato soup and

one pound Velveeta cheese, simmer 10 minutes

add 1/2 cup sour cream just prior to serving.

We typically use organic veggies, substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth, and  use low-fat sour cream, and it tastes warm and hearty.  But with all the veggies, this recipe is also a fairly healthy, very easy hit!  And, as my Rooster seems to say about everything, it is even better if you add bacon. I’ll leave that one up to you.

Bon appetit!

The air is still chilly here, and the forecast is calling for snow, but the birds have been chirping a lot lately, which is making me think of spring and opening the house up to catch warm breezes. Here’s an easy craft for kids that will help you enjoy those spring breezes when they come (and maybe give you something indoors to do with the kids if it snows again.)

1. Start with paper plates, the cheapest white paper ones you can find. Color both sides with markers or crayons, in any way you like. I would recommend patterns or small pictures (little hearts, maybe) instead of one large picture, as you’ll be cutting it up.



2. Starting on the outside, cut your plate around and around, making a spiral. Thin strips make it longer,thick strips, make it will shorter.



3. Now that your plate is cut, you can lay it back down on the table and add stickers, glitter, beads or sequins- whatever your kids like and you are willing to clean up!
4. Using a hole punch, make a hole at the end of your spiral (at what was formerly the inside of the plate) and attach a loop of yarn or string. Hang up your whirligig by a window to catch the breezes!

I did this craft with a big group of kids, and it kept them happily engaged for about 20 minutes. It might be a fun birthday party activity. And if you add cutout flowers, hearts, eggs. ghosts or ornaments, you could modify it for any time of year.

Not long ago, on a gray and cold day ,I decided that we needed to walk the toy poodle.  It had been a “”hair-pulling” day, and rather then head to the kitchen to start the mystery meal of the evening I thought we’d (okay mostly me) all benefit from a little neighborhood trek.

Approximately 200 yards from the house, the two chicks started slipping and sliding on the ice.  For a moment, I hesitated, but ultimately decided not to tell them no.  My internal conversation went something like this: “Playing on the ice could be dangerous, one of them could fall,”  and “Let them go, try not to over-manage a little outdoor fun.”  So, with a turn of my back, I silently continued on my way.

Almost immediately, I heard it.  The scream.  I turned. The blood.  And oh how the blood did flow!  My little one hit the ice with his face and the lip was bleeding like crazy.  I had visions of my seven year old chick, who had split her chin open at school that very same week, and realized that we were in for round two of stitches with the family doctor.  So I grabbed my boy, evaluated whether it’d be four or five stitches, and hopped in the car.  The good news?  A little bump (bloody though it was) didn’t seem to slow ‘em down.  Just this week he asked if he could try single-blade ice skates?  So, despite my initial feeling of “I should have stopped him from playing on the ice,” I recognize that sometimes you just have to let kids be kids, and accidents happen, and be proud that the bumps just don’t bruise their spirit!

I have a 3 year old son who seems to have some amazing clarity and insight into life. It never fails to surprise me when he says something that stops me in my tracks and makes me reconsider everything. Maybe it’s because the mind of a 3 year old is uncluttered and unfettered by the ingrained biases and rules that we “grown ups” live with. Anyway, it was just after Valentine’s Day and my little guy was eating a box of Sweethearts (you know…the little candy hearts with catchy sayings on them). Well, he got one that said “Dream Big”. He thought about it for a moment and then said “Actually, I dream little. That’s why all my dreams come true”. SLAM! In two short seconds he hit the “grown up” idea of dreaming big in the solar plexus. Almost as soon as he said it, he was on to the next thing and smiling and enjoying his life.

But, those few simple words dove deep inside of me and really got me thinking. We were always told as kids to dream big. And there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact my little guy dreams of being the first person to walk on Mars. But I think that we get so hung up on our big dreams that we forget or lose sight of those little ones. And by getting caught up in our big dreams, we usually set ourselves up for disappointment of some kind or another. If we’d focus more on those smaller goals (our “little dreams”) we’d find out that we accomplish amazing things every day, just in small increments. By recognizing these smaller goals we could feel a sense of constant accomplishment and that leads to a sense of happiness on a very frequent basis. So, maybe my little guy is on to something. As far as I can tell, he’s the happiest person I know. So go ahead, dream small and make your dreams come true!

I’ve written before about the curious nature of my kids, but what I didn’t say was that they come by it naturally. A couple weeks ago I looked through a copy of 5280 Magazine. They were running their yearly “Great Stuff Cheap” issue, where they have all kinds of money saving tips. One in particular caught my eye. The item stated that you could save money on shampoo and conditioner by replacing them with baking soda and vinegar. Hmm. Really? The article said that you make baking soda into a paste, work it into your hair and rinse. Then, if you need some conditioning, just follow that with a rinse of vinegar and cool water.

Sounded simple, but would it work? I was interested enough to find out, so I did what any sane person would do: I tried it on my children. Yes, during their showers I came at them with baking supplies. It turns out if you add too much water to baking soda it dissolves and goes down the drain, so making a paste was tricky the first time. Once I had that figured out, I found that it’s hard to shampoo hair if there is no lather. Really, it’s tough to know if you’ve gotten everything. But when we rinsed the baking soda out, it was surprisingly squeaky clean! Next was the conditioning vinegar rinse. I dumped a bit onto my kids heads, worked it around a little, then tried to follow it with a cool water rinse. In each instance, my children’s yells and screams told me that kids don’t like cool water rinses in the shower, so we did warm rinses instead. I was skeptical when my daughter’s hair looked like a tangled mess in the back, but it combed right out! Both kids had very manageable hair- it worked! (The article in 5280 said “We promise your shiny locks won’t smell like salad dressing” after rinsing with vinegar, but I found that a slight smell did linger.) After such success, I tried baking soda and vinegar on my own hair. It was as clean and well conditioned as with my regular products, which makes me wonder about the cost of shampoos!

But the bottom line is, would it save me any money? When I washed my hair with baking soda, I used a few tablespoons. I calculated that I’d get six or seven shampoos out of an 8 oz. box, so about 1 box a week. At about $2 a box at the grocery store, that’s $8 a month for shampoo. The shampoo I buy is not that expensive, so really, as a money saver, this one isn’t for me. (Although you can get a good rate on 21 pound bags of baking soda online, if you have room in your bathroom cupboard!) Really, I’m not sure when I’d use baking soda as shampoo. Maybe if I took baking soda camping I could leave my shampoo at home (assuming I would wash my hair while camping, that is.) Or maybe if there’s a blizzard and I’m trapped at home without shampoo for an extended period of time (and it’s imperative that I look my best) I can whip out the baking soda. Maybe I’ll try it on my dog. But practical or not, it was a fun little experiment, and I’m happy to say it works very well.